Page 28 - SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

Keywords

Primary Sources, Secondary Sources, Locating Sources, Research Gap, Sig-
nificance of Research, Annotating bibliography

Discussion

1.2.1 Definition, Etymology, and Types of
Research

The quest for truth and understanding drives us to explore
the unknown. Through careful inquiry and open-minded
curiosity, we explore the mysteries of the world and of
ourselves. Each discovery, however small, expands what we
know and illuminates what we yet have to learn. The path is
Systematic long, but the journey rewards the spirit. Thus, the Research
investigation is a systematic process of investigation aimed at discovering,
interpreting, and revising facts and information. The goal is
to increase knowledge and devise new applications of that
knowledge. The word research originates from the Middle
French “recherche”, meaning “to go about seeking”, itself
derived from the Old French “recerchier” meaning ‘to
search’. There are many definitions of research, reflecting its
complex and multifaceted nature.

Let us consider human knowledge as resembling the
expanding ripples caused by tossing a pebble into a pond.
Each discovery or innovation in humanity creates waves of
new possibilities outward into the vast waters of the unknown.
Even a small pebble of insight can ripple out in time to
touch distant shores. Yet if no new pebbles are tossed, the
Expanding pond will stagnate. Its waters will no longer reflect the sun’s
knowledge light and sky’s colors, but become choked with weeds. The
human need for exploration and understanding compels us
to keep searching for new pebbles and casting them into the
pond. For instance, the discovery of penicillin by Alexander
Fleming in 1928 created ripples that continue spreading
more than 90 years later. His serendipitous observation of
how mold inhibited bacterial growth led to the development
of antibiotics, which revolutionized medicine and saved
countless lives.

22 SGOU - SLM - Foundational Skills for Research and Writing